98 



MEMOIR ON BOSTON HARBOR. 



It is worthy of notice, that the deposit is principally on the extreme sides of the 

 channel, and that there is a slij^lit increase iu the depth in the middle of the channel, 

 owing to the loss of capacity. The section nnder examination crosses the part most 

 aflected by the great changes and improvements on the East Boston side during the 

 last fifteen years. And the inlliiencc of these changes has been increased by the lilling 

 up of the South Bay, and the great decrease of tliat reservoir in the same time. Anotlier 

 section made to the eastward of the former shows a loss of breadth of about five hun- 

 dred feet, though the change in the form of tlie bottom is less marked. 



But it is not necessary to multiply cases. The object in tiiis part of this memoir is 

 to communicate the evidences of deterioration, and enough has been adduced to prove 

 the most interesting fact that can be stated with regard to Boston Harbor, and that is, 

 the fact, that, at the inner threshold of approach to the upper anchorage, to the wharves 

 and landing-places of the city and its environs, important changes have been for some 

 time, and are now, in progress, which demand serious attention. And it must be re- 

 membered that this fact is the more worthy of consideration on account of the great in- 

 crease in the size of vessels of commerce. To meet tliis alteration in the draught 

 and capacity of steamers and merchant-ships, the channels and roadsteads of the harbor 

 should be enlarged, and not diminished. 



In this part of my subject it only remains to mention the filling up of the Fore Point 

 Ciiannel. And here the information contained in the old charts above mentioned aj)pears 

 to be satisfactory. Although notliing is known of their modes of reduction, and their 

 statements concerning the tides conflict very much with our present knowledge, yet they 

 concur so fully in assigning a much greater depth to this channel than now exists, that 

 their combined authority cannot be slighted. It is strengthened, moreover, by Wads- 

 worth ; and it must be admitted without hesitation, that during the present century the 

 average depths in the Fore Point Channel, below Summer Street wharf, have diminished 

 one half. On the spot the most favorably situated ft)r the accumulation of silt, the 

 loss between the years 1836 and 1847 was more than two feet. This is authen- 

 tically determined by means of the Commissioners' charts of those years. To all this 

 is to be added the concurrent testimony of intelligent individuals, owning property 

 or living in this part of the city, and having occasion to notice the changes in progress. 



